Leeds United’s Ao Tanaka played all 90 minutes for Japan in their 1-1 draw against Australia on Tuesday and now the question is whether the player is prepared for the quick turnaround for Friday night’s clash against Sheffield United.
Tanaka is among several fitness concerns for Leeds as they gear up for another important match against a promotion contender. With just 72 hours between his international duty and the Friday evening game, the quick turnaround is proving to be a challenge.
After playing in Saitama, Tanaka faces a 16-hour flight back to Leeds from Japan, leaving him with limited time to join the team’s training before the match at Elland Road.
What’s the next step to ensure Ao Tanaka is fit for Sheffield clash?
According to the Yorkshire Evening Post (h/t MOT Leeds News), the Whites will assess Tanaka’s fitness once he returns to the club from international duty. Nonetheless, the Japan native will likely return in enough time to make Leeds’ match against Sheffield.
Tanaka is expected to return to Thorp Arch and participate in Daniel Farke’s final training session before the Whites resume their Championship campaign. However, this will only happen after he’s assessed by the club’s medical team.
All players returning from international duty will undergo the same process at Thorp Arch. The YEP reports that Tanaka is likely to be cleared to play, having come through Japan’s latest match unscathed.
When the midfielder returns to Leeds, the club should see a motivated player. The 26-year-old recognizes areas of his game that need improvement, especially after seeing Hidemasa Morita and Wataru Endo impress in midfield.
However, Tanaka is confident that he’ll keep growing, particularly after his move to Elland Road this summer.
“Personally, I have many issues to work on”, he told Japanese outlet SoccerKing. “When I watch players like [Hidemasa] Morita and [Wataru] Endo, I feel that there is still a lot I need to do and a lot of room to grow.
“I can feel it not only from players in the same position but also from players in other positions. My defensive style isn’t particularly flashy, but conversely, I need to keep trying. As I’m playing in England, I think that this is something I’ll continue to improve in. I’m looking forward to seeing how much I can grow.”
